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Friday, December 25, 2015

Keralites tortured in Saudi Arabia return home

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Three Keralites, who were physically tortured by their employer in Saudi Arabia, returned to India early Saturday morning after being rescued from a brick factory in Abha.A horrifying video of three Keralites being beaten brutally by their employer had evoked strong reactions in the state. In the video, the Saudi man could be seen beating the three with a wooden club.The men, Abhishek, Vimal and Baiju, who are from Haripad in Kerala, had forwarded the video to their family members, with an appeal for help."I went there with lots of dream... now I don't know what I will do...need money to build a house, loans to be paid off," said 21-year-old Abhishek, a trained electrician who was cheated on the pretext of job and was forced to work in a brick factory.It's the same story for 29-year-old Baiju, a plumber and 30-year-old Vimal.In an emotional reunion at Thiruvananthapuram airport, Vimal's mother Ommanna K said: "Thank you for bringing back my son. I pray for a long life and health for him."The case has been registered against the local job agent who allegedly promised the three men jobs in Yemen as electricians. But they were duped and taken to Abha in Saudi Arabia, where they were forced to work in a brick manufacturing company.Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had assured that the issue would be taken up with the authorities and the men will be back home soon."We reported this to Saudi Police. We are in touch with Indian workers. They will be back in India within a week," she had tweeted.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had also assured their return within two days.